ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Railways
All passenger train services cancelled till 3rd May 2020 in view of COVID 19 lockdown
All ticket counters for bookings including UTS & PRS , will remain suspended till further orders
No advance reservation of train tickets, including E tickets, till further advice, however, facility of online cancellation will remain functional
Full refund for reservation made for the trains cancelled.
Full refund will also be there for those cancelling the advance bookings of tickets for trains not yet cancelled
In continuation of the measures taken in the wake of COVID-19 Lockdown, it has been decided that all passenger train services on Indian Railways including Premium trains, Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Suburban Trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway etc shall continue to remain cancelled till 3rd May 2020.
To ensure the essential supplies in various parts of the country, movement of goods and Parcel trains will continue.
No booking of any type of tickets, including E tickets shall be done till further advice. However, facility of online cancellation will remain functional for ticket bookings.
All counters for ticket booking for UTS & PRS will remain closed till further orders.
Full refund will be given for tickets for the bookings made for the trains cancelled.
Full refund will also be there for those cancelling the advance bookings of tickets for trains not yet cancelled.
As far as trains cancelled upto 3rd May 2020 is concerned, the refunds would be automatically remitted by the Railways online to the customers while those who have booked across the counters, refund can be taken upto 31st July, 2020.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
In India’s first container movement on inland waterways PEPSICO to move 16 containers from Kolkata to Varanasi
Inland Waterways Authority of India  will transport container cargo belonging to the food and beverage giant PepsiCo  from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga  tomorrow. This would be the country’s first container movement on inland vessel post-independence, and a milestone moment in the history of India’s IWT sector. PepsiCo  will move 16 containers – equivalent to 16 truckloads- filled with food and snacks in the vessel MV RN Tagore which will reach Varanasi in 9-10 days. MV RN Tagore will make its return journey with fertilizers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad.
Secretary , Govt. of India, Shri Gopal Krishna along with Chairman, IWAI, Shri Pravir Pandey and other senior Government officials will flag off the vessel carrying the consignment in the presence of PepsiCo representatives. The event coincides with another momentous day for IWT in India as IWAI’s first foray into Public Private Partnership  model will become a reality with the handing over of operation and management of its terminals in Kolkata to M/s Summit Alliance Port East Gateway  Pvt Ltd.  on a supply, operate and maintain  model.
Container cargo transport comes with several inherent advantages. Even as it reduces the handling cost, allows easier modal shift, reduces pilferages and damage, it also enables cargo owners to reduce their carbon footprints.
The government is developing NW-1  under JMVP from Haldia to Varanasi  with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5369 crore. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT.
The Union Minister for Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkarihad flagged off a consignment of Maruti cars from Varanasi to Haldia in August, 2016. Since then pilot movements on National Waterways are currently being done on various stretches. More than 15 of them have already been successfully completed, including integrated movements through NW-1 , Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and NW-2 . The PepsiCo cargo will be the first container movement on inland waterways in the country.
Ministry of Finance
Launch of Ananda- Atmanirbhar Agents New Business Digital App
Goa: 20 November 2020
Mr. C. VIKAS RAO, ZONAL MANAGER, LIC of India, Western Zone, informed that it is a historic moment today for the Life Insurance Industry, as LIC of India has launched a digital application - ANANDA in the hands of Honourable Chairman Mr. M R Kumar, which will prove to be a game changer.
In view of today’s difficult and challenging times, LIC has come up with a unique and timely initiative to facilitate the process of proposal completion which is totally paperless and completely digital. The process of new business completion has been re-engineered by converting physical formats into digital ones.
ANANDA will enable an agent to complete a policy even without physically meeting the customer. Mr. C. VIKAS RAO, ZM informed that One prerequisite would be that the mobile number of the customer should be mapped with his Aadhar.
This application has evoked tremendous response from all intermediaries of the Corporation. We are sanguine that this initiative will turn out to be a catalyst and will work as a huge booster in the business performance of the Corporation in coming days.
Mr. C. VIKAS RAO, ZM, called upon all the public of the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa to keep their trust continued and insure themselves with LIC by taking the benefit of this wonderful application.
VK/PM
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Ministry of Finance
ADB, India sign $100 million loan to upgrade power distribution system in Bengaluru
The Asian Development Bank  and the Government of India on 31st December 2020 signed a $100 million loan to modernise and upgrade the power distribution system to enhance the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Bengaluru city in the state of Karnataka.
The signatories to the Bengaluru Smart Energy Efficient Power Distribution Project were Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Mr. Hoe Yun Jeong, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission, who signed for ADB.
Beside the $100 million sovereign loan, ADB will provide a $90 million without sovereign guarantee loan for the project to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited , one of five state-owned distribution utilities in Karnataka.
After signing the loan agreement, Dr. Mohapatra stated that conversion of overhead distribution lines into underground cables will help build an energy-efficient distribution network, reduce technical and commercial losses and minimize electricity outage resulting from natural hazards such as cyclones and external disturbances to overhead lines.
Mr. Jeong said that the project demonstrates an innovative financing arrangement, the first of its kind for ADB, by combining sovereign and nonsovereign loans for a state government-owned enterprise. This is intended to significantly reduce the sovereign exposure and help BESCOM move towards a market-based approach for raising funds for capital expenditure.
In parallel to underground distribution cables, over 2,800 km of fibre optical cables will be installed to strengthen communication network. Moving about 7,200 km of distribution lines underground will help reduce technical and commercial losses by about 30%. The fibre optical cables will be used for smart metering systems, distribution automation system  in the distribution grid, and other communication networks. The project will install 1,700 automated ring main units adapted with a DAS to monitor and control the distribution line switchgears from the control centre.
The loan will strengthen the capacity of BESCOM in operation and maintenance of underground cabling, environment and social safeguards, financial management and commercial financing. Improved financial management capability will help BESCOM access domestic and international commercial financing market.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
National Commission For Women Launches Pan-India Legal Awareness Programme For Women In Collaboration With NALSA
Programme Aims To Impart Practical Knowledge To Women About Legal Rights And Remedies Provided Under Various Laws To Prepare Them To Face The Challenges In Real Life Situations
The National Commission for Women , along with National Legal Services Authority  has launched a pan-India Legal Awareness Program for Women, "Empowerment of Women through Legal Awareness” to impart practical knowledge about legal rights and remedies provided under various women related laws, thereby making them fit to face the challenges in real life situations.
The programme was launched today in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh by Hon'ble Justice UU Lalit, Judge Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA, Chairperson, National Commission for Women Ms Rekha Sharma in the presence of Hon'ble Justice DY Chandrachud, Judge, Supreme Court of India and other dignitaries.
In his address, Justice UU Lalit mentioned the importance of legal awareness programs in promoting women empowerment. He said “women empowerment will come through such awareness programs and I am very proud to say that in association with the National Commission for Women, NALSA has been organising these awareness programs for women”. “The nature of these programs initially has been that we are training the teachers those who in turn will be training various women in cross sections of the society and will make them aware of their legal rights," said Justice Lalit.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson, NCW, Ms Rekha Sharma said “a large section of society is still unaware about the forms of aids that are available to them and we seek to rectify this situation with one step at a time or in this case with one camp at a time covering all the districts in the country”. She said that It has become quintessential for women to be aware of the rights bestowed upon them by constitution and the procedure to remedy the situation or seek justice if they are infringed upon.
The programme aims to cover all the States and Union Territories across the country through regular sessions to make women aware of the various machineries of the justice delivery system available for redressal of their grievances. The project will sensitize women and girls about their rights as provided under the various laws including the Indian Penal Code. The project will also make them aware of the procedure of approaching and utilizing various channels available for the redressal of grievances, i.e., the Police, the Executive and the Judiciary.
Earlier, the Commission had launched a pilot project ‘Legal Awareness Programme’ in collaboration with NALSA for women at the grass-root levelon August 15, 2020.The Pilot project had covered all the districts of 8 States, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Assam.
BY/AS
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
141.01 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 77,032, lowest in 579 days
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.22%; Lowest since March 2020
Recovery Rate currently at 98.40%; Highest since March 2020
7,286 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,42,23,263
7,189 new cases in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate  less than 2% for last 82 days
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 1% for last 41 days
67.10 cr Total Tests conducted so far
Statewise status of Omicron Variant
|
|
S. No.
|
|
State
|
|
No. of Omicron Cases
|
|
Discharged/Recovered/Migrated
|
|
1
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
108
|
|
42
|
|
2
|
|
Delhi
|
|
79
|
|
23
|
|
3
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
43
|
|
5
|
|
4
|
|
Telangana
|
|
38
|
|
0
|
|
5
|
|
Kerala
|
|
37
|
|
1
|
|
6
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
34
|
|
0
|
|
7
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
31
|
|
15
|
|
8
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
22
|
|
19
|
|
9
|
|
Haryana
|
|
4
|
|
2
|
|
10
|
|
Odisha
|
|
4
|
|
0
|
|
11
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
4
|
|
1
|
|
12
|
|
Jammu and Kashmir
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
13
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
3
|
|
1
|
|
14
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
15
|
|
Chandigarh
|
|
1
|
|
0
|
|
16
|
|
Ladakh
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
17
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
1
|
|
0
|
||
|
Total
|
|
415
|
|
115
President's Secretariat
President of India to Visit Rashtrapati Nilayam, Secunderabad for Winter Sojourn
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu will visit Secunderabad, Telangana for winter sojourn at Rashtrapati Nilayam from December 26 to 30, 2022.
On December 26, 2022, the President will visit Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh and inaugurate projects related to the development of Srisailam Temple under PRASHAD scheme of Union Ministry of Tourism. She will also visit Sri Shivaji Spoorthy Kendram at Srisailam, before reaching to Rashtrapati Nilayam.
On December 27, 2022, the President will address the students and faculty members of Keshav Memorial Educational Society in Hyderabad. On the same day, she will visit Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy to address the Officer Trainees of Indian Police Service . She will also inaugurate the Wide Plate Mill of Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited  at Hyderabad.
On December 28, 2022, the President will visit Sri Seetharama Chandra Swamyvari Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam and lay the foundation stone for the development of tourism infrastructure at Bhadrachalam Temple under PRASHAD scheme. She will also inaugurate Sammakka Saralamma Janjati Pujari Sammelan, organised by the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad –Telangana as well as virtually inaugurate Eklavya Model Residential Schools of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mahabubabad districts of Telangana. On the same day, the President will visit Ramappa Temple in Warangal district where she will lay the foundation stones for development of tourism infrastructure at Ramappa Temple and restoration of Kameshwaralaya Temple.
On December 29, 2022, the President will interact with the students and faculty members of G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science  as well as students and staff of BM Malani Nursing College and Suman Junior College of Mahila Dakshata Samithi at Hyderabad. On the same day, she will visit the Statue of Equality at Sriramnagaram, Shamshabad.
On December 30, 2022, the President will host veer naris and other dignitaries over a lunch at Rashtrapati Nilayam, before returning to Delhi.
Ministry of Home Affairs
IMPLEMENTATION OF MODEL PRISON MANUAL
The Model Prison Manual, 2016 prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs  in the year 2016 was forwarded to all States and Union Territories  for adoption and implementation in their respective jurisdictions. As on date, 18 States and all Union Territories have confirmed the adoption of Model Prison Manual 2016. MHA is regularly pursuing the matter with the remaining State Governments by sending communications at the highest level and by engaging with the State representatives through Video Conference meetings.
MHA has approved the ‘Modernisation of Prisons’ Project with a financial outlay of Rs. 950 crore from the Financial Year 2021-22 to Financial Year 2025-26, aimed at modernizing the prison equipments and strengthening the security infrastructure in the jails of the country. The main objectives of Modernisation of Prisons Project are as follows:
 Enhancing security infrastructure and other logistical facilities in jails through technological interventions and creation of high security infrastructure.
 Focus on correctional administration through programmes/initiatives on skilling, rehabilitation and behaviour change, etc.
Detailed guidelines for implementation of the Modernisation of Prisons Project have been circulated to all States and UTs. Rs. 9.00 crore have been released to the Govt. of Karnataka under the Modernisation of Prisons Project in the Financial Year 2021-22 and Rs. 100.00 crore have been sanctioned for setting up a High Security Prison in the State.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
All Precautionary Measures Has Been Rigged All Around the Capsized Vessel MV Marine Trust at SMP, Kolkata to Contain Oil Spill or Spill of Any Chemical Materials
Kolkata , 25th March, 2022
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata has taken all precautionary measures like Oil Spill Boom barrier has been rigged all around the capsized vessel MV Marine Trust to contain oil spill or spill of any chemical within No.5 berth. Further skimmer, pumps , oil soaking pads has been kept ready to pick up oil from water if detected. P&I club surveyor and hull and machinery underwriter appointed surveyor has carried out survey. They are planning for rescue operation. The Chittagong bound Vessel MV Marine Trust capsized at Netaji Shubhas Dock of Shyama Prasad Mukherji Port  Kolkata yesterday morning.
CG/CB
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Prime Minister's Office
English translation of Prime Minister's statement on 30 years of establishment of formal Diplomatic relationship between India and Israel
Greetings from India to all Israeli friends and Shalom. Today is a special day in our relationship. 30 years ago, on this very day, full diplomatic relations were established between us.
A new chapter began between the two countries. Even though this chapter was new, the history of both our countries is very old. There has been close relationship between our peoples for centuries.
As is the nature of India, for hundreds of years our Jewish community has lived and flourished in a harmonious environment in Indian society without any discrimination. It has made significant contributions to our development journey.
Today, when significant changes are taking place all over the world, the importance of India-Israel relations has increased even further. And what better opportunity to set new goals for mutual cooperation – when India is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its independence this year, when Israel will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its independence next year and when both the countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
On this important milestone of 30 years, I congratulate you all again. I am sure that India-Israel friendship will continue to set new records of mutual cooperation in the coming decades.
Thank you, Toda Raba.
DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Nirbhaya Fund
The Ministry of Home Affairs  has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs 98.86 crores under “Nirbhaya Fund” to all States and Union Territories  during the financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21 for strengthening the existing Anti Human Trafficking Units  and for establishing new AHTUs covering all districts of the States and UTs.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are ‘State-List’ subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Therefore, the intelligence gathering, investigation and prosecution vests with respective State Governments who are competent to deal with such matters under the extant provisions of law.
The Ministry of Home Affairs  provides regular financial assistance to the States and UTs for holding Judicial Colloquiums and State Level Conferences from time to time, which are aimed at the capacity building of law officers, police officers and other officials concerned with the issue of preventing and countering human trafficking. MHA had also issued an Advisory to the States and UTs, inter-alia, advising them that ‘intelligence’ and ‘surveillance’ mechanisms may be established for identifying the persons and gangs involved in human trafficking and for gathering information about their affiliations, modus operandi, etc. The States/UTs have also been advised that Police officers, especially those handling cases of human trafficking, should be trained and sensitized at regular intervals and they should be imparted knowledge of procedural laws, court rulings, administrative procedures, skills in child friendly investigation, including interviewing, interrogation, scientific data collection, facilitating victims/witness protection programmes etc.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
Competition Commission of India
CCI approves acquisition of 100% of equity share capital of L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited and Kudgi Transmission Limited, by Epic Concesiones Private Limited and Infrastructure Yield Plus II, respectively
The Competition Commission of India  approves the acquisition of 100% of the equity share capital of L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited  and Kudgi Transmission Limited , by Epic Concesiones Private Limited  and Infrastructure Yield Plus II , respectively, under Section 31 of the Competition Act, 2002.
The Proposed Combination envisages the acquisition of: -
- 51% and 49% of equity share capital of L&T IDPL from Larsen and Toubro Limited and CPPIB India Private Holdings Inc., respectively, by ECPL; and
- 100% of the equity share capital of KTL  by IYP II.
ECPL is a private limited company and is wholly owned by IYP II. ECPL proposes to provide, develop, own, maintain, operate, instruct, execute, carry out, improve, construct, repair, work, administer, manage, control, and transfer infrastructure projects.
IYP II is a scheme of Infrastructure Yield Trust, an irrevocable and determinate contributory investment trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India  as a Category I – Infrastructure Alternative Investment Fund, under the SEBI  Regulations, 2012 . IYP II aims to provide investors an opportunity to earn returns based on long-term cash flows and growth through investments in infrastructure assets in India and primarily invests in securities of special purpose vehicles, or companies or units of infrastructure investment trusts or any other structure, for investment in infrastructure assets in accordance with AIF Regulations.
L&T IDPL is involved in the business of development, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure projects under the Public Private Partnership model, through its subsidiaries. The subsidiaries enter into concession agreements with National Highways Authority of India / State authorities and / or transmission service agreement with power supply generation / transmission / distribution companies, for the development, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects under the Design- Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer / Build-Operate-Transfer/ Build-Operate-Transfer Annuity / Build-Operate-Own-Maintain mode with the concession / agreement period ranging from 15 to 35 years. At the end of the relevant concession period, typically the entire facilities are transferred to the concerned government authorities.
KTL is engaged in developing a transmission system required for evacuation of power.
Detailed order of the CCI will follow.